Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Another Week!

Hey Everyone!                                                3 December 2012




E. Richards in Newport News





This week has been really great and at times boring! GREAT because we have people to help teach the gospel to and BORING because I have had to stay in a lot because of my ankle. I'm scooting along and I'm trying to get through the hard stuff. I'm not wearing my navy boots. I left them in Glen Allen; but I do have a brace on every time we go out to work.

When I mentioned I bucked my bike, I meant that when I hit both the front and the rear breaks, my bike started to do a front flip. However, my front tire was on the ground and my back tire was up above my head. I ended up sitting on my bike and looking at the ground at the same time and I called it 'bucking' much like a cowboy....Hahaha! I use to do it for fun in Portsmouth on the grass and not so much on the concrete! :-(

The lady we're teaching is great! She wants to be baptized on December 19th but she has to be married first, since she's living with the opposite sex......so I won't be here (for the baptism) but it is an honor to teach someone the gospel.

Here in Newport News people love to learn more. They are more geared to learn about the gospel for some reason; than in my last areas....so the more we work the better. We've been going and trying to talk to past investigators but a lot of people will just approach us about the gospel. Missionary work is great when it's about helping the person wanting to learn more. I'm not here to get a million baptisms for numbers. As my companion and I just teach the lesson and mention baptism, they usually drive towards that on their own - such as the woman set for the 19th of December. She set that herself so...yeah...I love doing missionary work.

Since my accident, my companion is taking good care of me. He tells me how worried he is about me and it's really made me think about how safe I should be. Also, I've been thinking about how to strengthen my testimony. I try to do that by hearing testimonies given on fast Sunday and by reading my journal entries of past spiritual experiences I've had. I can't deny MY OWN WORDS AND THOUGHTS....and the Spirit comes as I remember why the gospel is preached. As the Savior said in Moses 1:39 "For behold, this is my work and my glory -- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." it is His purpose and I know why I'm doing it also. It's great! Anything I can do to drive towards that in life and keeping in mind the Lord's guide lines in the scriptures then its going to be alright. God just wants us to trust him.

Anyway.....I hope y'all have a great week. I LOVE you all. Thanks for your e-mails.

Elder Richards

Virginia Richmond Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints